Top 10 Wine Country Inns in the US

Settlers Crossing Bed & Breakfast

A resident donkey and old-fashioned style give character to this historic wine country retreat.

Peaches, pecans, beer gardens and vineyards: Welcome to eclectic Fredericksburg. An hour from Austin, this hospitable town was settled by German immigrants in the 1840s, and proves to be an anomaly in the land of longhorns. It's an excellent base for exploring wineries, the pre-Civil War Fort Martin Scott historic site and LBJ National Park. For those who want an authentic lodging experience, there is only one choice: Settler's Crossing with just seven historic guest cottages. The two-story Bohl Log Cabin is ideal for groups, while the charming 1865 Pioneer Log Cabin features its own restored wine cellar and 40-foot-long stone porch. Antiques, wood-burning fireplaces and Brighty the resident donkey are among the many highlights.

When contemplating the origins of the best vodkas, places such as the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Finland and other chilly climes come to mind. So what's a top vodka doing deep in the heart of Texas?

On the bottle of this inventive brew, you'll find a hand-scrawled "Weedwacker" label hastily pasted over the word "Lawnmower" — an allusion to the fact that the beer shares a recipe with Saint Arnold's best-selling Fancy Lawnmower.

When contemplating the origins of the best vodkas, places such as the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Finland and other chilly climes come to mind. So what's a top vodka doing deep in the heart of Texas?

On the bottle of this inventive brew, you'll find a hand-scrawled "Weedwacker" label hastily pasted over the word "Lawnmower" — an allusion to the fact that the beer shares a recipe with Saint Arnold's best-selling Fancy Lawnmower.